Akane Ōsaki is the central protagonist of the series, a young woman defined by her unwavering resolve and deep respect for the traditional Japanese art of rakugo. She grew up captivated by the performances of her father, Tooru, whose expulsion from the prestigious Arakawa School during a crucial promotion test to the highest rank of shin'uchi became the defining event of her childhood. This incident shattered her family and caused her father to abandon his career, instilling in Akane both a profound sense of loss and a burning determination to vindicate him. Her primary motivation is to achieve the rank of shin'uchi within the same school that cast her father out, thereby proving the worth of his rakugo and avenging his fallen career.

Six years after her father's expulsion, Akane enters high school and begins her own journey into the world of rakugo, having secretly trained under Shiguma, her father's former master. She is a headstrong individual of quiet resolve, whose path is guided by a deeply held conviction rather than mere outward ambition. While she is relentlessly determined to achieve her goals, often prioritizing the improvement of her rakugo skills over her studies, she is also notably kind and quickly forms strong attachments to those around her. Her natural instinct for performance is evident, though her journey is one of steady growth through repeated hardship and adversity, maturing her both as a storyteller and as a person.

In the story, Akane's role is that of an aspiring rakugo performer who must navigate the competitive and often rigid hierarchy of the rakugo world. She formally joins the Arakawa School under the stage name Akane Arakawa, advancing through the ranks from a zenza (apprentice) to a futatsume (mid-rank performer). Key relationships include her father, Tooru, whose shattered dream she carries forward; her master Shiguma, who provides her with the foundation and guidance needed to rise; and Issho Arakawa, the powerful and inscrutable master who expelled her father and who stands as both her primary obstacle and the ultimate target of her quest. Her bond with Shiguma is particularly significant, built on years of secret training and mutual respect. Her interactions with fellow rakugo students, such as the rival Kaisei and the supportive Koguma, further shape her competitive spirit and growth. Over the course of the series, covering a time span from age sixteen to twenty-two, she develops not only in technical skill but also in her understanding of rakugo as a living art form, learning to find her own voice and style to honor her father's legacy while forging her own path. Her notable abilities include a powerful stage presence, a keen ability to read an audience, and a natural talent for embodying multiple characters through changes in voice and posture, the hallmarks of a skilled rakugoka. She is able to channel her deep emotional drive into her performances, making them both technically impressive and emotionally resonant. Her cleverness and adaptability allow her to learn from defeats and quickly refine her approach to storytelling.